Deployable wing for missile or projectile

Abstract

A wing for an aircraft extending along and normally intended to move along a main axis comprises a first pivot fixed on the aircraft and defining a fixed pivot axis generally parallel to the main axis, a guide extending angularly on the aircraft adjacent the first pivot, and a second pivot defining a movable axis generally parallel to the main axis and displaceable in the guide between an inner end position closely juxtaposed with the fixed axis and an outer end position spaced angularly therefrom. A first wing plate is pivotal about the fixed axis and has an inner end fixed to the fixed pivot and an outer end and a second wing plate is pivotal about the movable axis and has an outer end fixed to the outer end of the first plate and an inner end fixed to the second pivot. The wings are displaceable between an undeployed position lying against one another and against the aircraft with the movable axis in the inner end position close to the fixed axis and a deployed position with both wings extending at an angle to each other and generally radially of the aircraft and with the movable axis in the outer end position far from the fixed axis.

I claim: 
     
       1. A wing for an aircraft extending along and normally intended to move along a main axis, the wing comprising: a first pivot fixed on the aircraft and defining a fixed pivot axis generally parallel to the main axis;   a guide extending angularly on the aircraft adjacent the first pivot;   a second pivot defining a movable axis generally parallel to the main axis and displaceable in the guide between an inner end position closely juxtaposed with the fixed axis and an outer end position spaced angularly therefrom;   a first wing plate pivotal about the fixed axis and having an inner end fixed to the fixed pivot and an outer end;   a second wing plate pivotal about the movable axis and having an outer end fixed to the outer end of the first plate and an inner end fixed to the second pivot; and   means for displacing the wing plates between an undeployed position lying against one another and against the aircraft with the movable axis in the inner end position close to the fixed axis and a deployed position with both wings extending at an angle to each other and generally radially of the aircraft and with the movable axis in the outer end position far from the fixed axis.   
     
     
       2. The wing defined in claim 1 wherein each pivot includes at least one pivot pin extending along the respective pivot axis and secured to the respective inner plate end. 
     
     
       3. The wing defined in claim 2 wherein the pivot pin of the second plate is displaceable along the guide. 
     
     
       4. The wing defined in claim 3 wherein at least one of the pins is comprised of two pin parts arranged coaxially of the respective axis. 
     
     
       5. The wing defined in claim 4 wherein the one pin having the two parts is the pin of the second plate and is engaged in the guide, the guide being two grooves into which the respective pin parts are engaged and having ends remote from the fixed pivot formed with inwardly open recesses, the wing further comprising spring means engaged with the pin parts for urging same outwardly and for pressing same lockingly into the recesses when the respective pin parts are aligned therewith, whereby the pin parts lock the movable pivot relative to the aircraft when engaged in the respective recesses.   
     
     
       6. The wing defined in claim 5 wherein the recesses are aligned on a recess axis extending at an acute angle to the fixed pivot axis, whereby when the pin parts are engaged in the recesses the wing plates are twisted to impart spin to the aircraft in flight. 
     
     
       7. A wing for an aircraft extending along and normally intended to move along a main axis, the wing comprising: a first pivot fixed on the aircraft and defining a fixed pivot axis generally parallel to the main axis;   a guide extending angularly on the aircraft adjacent the first pivot;   a second pivot defining a movable axis generally parallel to the main axis and displaceable in the guide between an inner end position closely juxtaposed with the fixed axis and an outer end position spaced angularly therefrom;   a first flexible and elastic wing plate pivotal about the fixed axis and having an inner end fixed to the fixed pivot and an outer end;   a second flexible and elastic wing plate pivotal about the movable axis and having an outer end fixed to the outer end of the first plate and an inner end fixed to the second pivot, the wing plates being displaceable between an undeployed position lying against one another and against the aircraft with the movable axis in the inner end position close to the fixed axis and a deployed position with both wings extending at an angle to each other and generally radially of the aircraft and with the movable axis in the outer end position far from the fixed axis, the wing plates more elastically deformed in the undeployed than in the deployed position, whereby the plates when unconstrained naturally move into the deployed position.   
     
     
       8. The wing defined in claim 7 wherein the wing plates when undeformed are curved. 
     
     
       9. The wing defined in claim 7 wherein the curvature of the wing plates is about one axis. 
     
     
       10. The wing defined in claim 7 wherein the curvature of the wing plates is about two axes. 
     
     
       11. The wing defined in claim 7 wherein the wing plates are concavely arcuate away from each other when in the deployed position and are concavely arcuate toward the main axis when in the undeployed position.